Electrical counter

ABSTRACT

A counter capable of serially receiving and accumulating a plurality of input values. The counter includes an ordinal series of register wheels having carry means operable for effecting a transfer of a value representative of an input value of one from a lower order register wheel into a next adjacent higher order register wheel in response to advancement of said lower order register wheel past a predetermined point. Input means is operatively associated with the ordinal series of register wheels and operable for effecting an increment of advancement of the lower order register wheel a predetermined amount representative of an input value of one in response to a cycle of operation of the input means. The input means includes a permanent magnet which is normally biased in a first predetermined direction by a magnetic attraction means. Electromagnetic means is operatively associated with the magnetic attraction means for reversing the polarity of the magnetic attraction means whereby the permanent magnet will be biased in a second predetermined direction in response to an electrical pulse being applied to said electromagnetic means. The permanent magnet will thereafter be automatically biased in the first predetermined direction in response to the completion of the electrical pulse being applied to the electromagnetic means. Thus an electrical pulse applied to the electromagnetic means will effect oscillating movement of the permanent magnet to thereby effect corresponding oscillating movement of the input means to effect an increment of advancement of the lower order register wheel a predetermined amount representative of an input value of one.

nited Statesv Patent [191 Pittman et a1.

nu fit,-

[ June 26, 1973 1 ELECTRICAL COUNTER I75] Inventors: Clarence E. Pittman. Atlanta; lvan ll. Crlm. (,hnmblcc. both of (in.

[73] Assignee: Lectra Data, lnc., Atlanta, Ga.

[22] Filed: Jan. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 220,018

[52] US. Cl. 235/92 C, 235/92 R [51] Int. Cl. G06m 1/04 [58] Field of Search .1 235/92 C, 92 A, 92 EA; 340/378, 382

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 700,851 5/1902 Storm 235/92 EA 3,268,714 8/1966 Wales 235/92 C 2,822,983 2/1958 Sengebusch 235/92 C 3,619,575 11/1971 Nagao Mizutani et a1 235/92 C 748,778 1/1904 Nash 235/92 A 2,416,081 2/1947 Bakke 235/92 A 3,047,224 7/1962 Ray et al..l... 235/92 C 3,118,138 1/1964 Milas et a1... 235/92 A 3,391,274 7/1968 Avery 235/92 A Primary Examiner-Thomas A. Robinson Assistant ExaminerJoseph M. Thesz, Jr. Attorney-Edward Taylor Newton, George N. Hopkins et a1.

[ ABSTRACT ordinal series of register wheels having carry means operable for effecting a transfer of a value representative of an input value of one from a lower order register wheel into a next adjacent higher order register wheel in response to advancement of said lower order register wheel past a predetermined point. lnput means is operatively associated with the ordinal series of register wheels and operable for effecting an increment of advancement of the lower order register wheel a predetermined amount representative of an input value of one in response to a cycle of operation of the input means. The input means includes a permanent magnet which is normally biased in a first predetermined direction by a magnetic attraction means. Electromagnetic means is operatively associated with the magnetic attraction means for reversing the polarity of the magnetic attraction means whereby the permanent magnet will be biased in a second predetermined direction in response to an electrical pulse being applied to said electromagnetic means. The permanent magnet will thereafter be automatically biased in the first predetermined direction in response to the completion of the electrical pulse being applied to the electromagnetic means. Thus an electrical pulse applied to the electromagnetic means will effect oscillating movement of the permanent magnet to thereby effect corresponding oscillating movement of the input means to effect an increment of advancement of the lower order register wheel a predetermined amount representative of an.

input value of one.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures ELECTRICAL COUNTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a counter which is operable in response to receiving an electrical pulse representative of an input value of one, and is more particularly concerned with means for accumulating a plurality of electrical pulses to represent a total of the electrical pulses received by the counter.

Many attempts have been made to provide counters which are operable in response to receiving a series of electrical input pulses. Most of the prior art electrically operable counters include an electromagnetic means which is operatively connected to a number of indexing SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above disadvantages of the prior art have been overcome by the present invention which basically includes the use of a pivotally mounted permanent magnet which is normally attracted in a first direction and which is caused to be pivotally moved in an opposite direction in response to an electrical pulse being applied to an electrical magnetic means. The electromagnetic means reverses the polarity'of magnetic attraction means associated with the permanent magnet. The permanent magnet is operatively associated with an input pawl wherein an oscillating cycle of movement of the permanent magnet and input pawl will effect advancement of a counter register wheel an increment of angular displacement representative of an input value of one, in response to an electrical pulse being applied to the electromagnetic means.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the use of the permanent magnet operatively associated with magnetic attraction means and electromagnetic means wherein pivotal indexing movement of an indexing pawl can be effected without making any physical connection between the electromagneticmeans and the input pawl.

Another important feature of the present invention resides in the construction of the input pawl associated with the lower order register wheel wherein the lower order register wheel is automatically advanced a predetermined amount representative of an input value of one in response to an oscillating cycle of movement of the input pawl.

The counter utilized in the present invention includes an ordinal series of register wheels which are provided with circumferentially spaced value indicating means, with the value indicating means being settable at a value representative position. A viewing window is operatively associated with the register wheels for viewing a value set at the value representative position. The viewing window is constructed of transparent material detailed in construction to normally obstruct the view of the value set in the value representative position due to the normal light intensity at the value representative position and includes switch controlled light means for illuminating the value set at value representative position wherein the value can be selectively viewed through the transparent window.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an accumulative counter which is operable for accumulating a plurality of serially received electrical input pulses and for converting the input pulses into an input value which can be selectively viewed at a value representative position.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an electrical counter mechanism which is simple in construction and operation, economical to manufacture and reliable in performance.

Still other objects and advantages of the details of construction will become apparent upon reading the following description of the illustrative embodiment embodying the principles of the present invention, with reference to the attached drawings wherein like reference numerals will be used to refer to like parts throughout the several figures, and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF DRAWING FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical counter embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the counter shown in FIG. 1 in an assembled relationship;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the counter as seen along line 4-4 of FIG. 2, with the counter illuminating means being maintained in an off position; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view similar to FIG. 4, with the counter illuminating means in an on position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, an electrical counter embodying the principles of the present invention is shown and generally represented by the reference numeral 10. The counter mechanism 10 will be described with reference of frame support means 20, an ordinal series of registering wheels 40, value input pawl 60, and input value control means 100.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the counter frame means includes a main support block 21. Support block 21 includes a plurality of longitudinally extending projections 22. A pair of end plate support members 23, 24 are connected in parallel relationship to each other and are secured to the opposite ends of main support block 21. The main support block projections 22 are secured in a press fit relationship within complementary openings 25 provided in the endplate members 23, 24 in substantially parallel relationship to the main support block 21. The main support block 21, end plate members 23, 24 and viewing window 30 will define a substantially rectangular housing for containing the ordinal series of register wheels 40 and the value input pawl 60, as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.

The viewing window 30 is constructed of transparent material which is detailed in construction to normally obstruct the viewing of a value set in a value representative position on the registering wheels 40 due to the normal light intensity of the value representative position. Light means 31 is supported between the registering wheel 40 and viewing window 30 whereby the light means can be selectively operated to illuminate the value set at a value representative position on the registering wheels so that they can selectively be viewed through window 30. The function and operation of the light means and window 30 will be described in more detail hereinbelow in the description of the operation of the counter.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first support shaft 32 is mounted in the end plate members 23, 24. Support shaft 32 rotatably supports three ordinal register wheels 41, 42, 43. Each of the register wheels 4143 are provided with value indicating means 44 circumferentially spaced around the surface of the registering wheel. The value indicating members on the registering wheels are adapted to be selectively set at a value representative position, as shown in FIG. to be viewed through window 30 in response to operation of the light means 31. Register wheel 41 is the lower order wheel and includes an axially extending gear means 45 integrally formed therewith. Gear means 45 includes a number of radially extending gear teeth 46. Gear teeth 46 are detailed in dimension and angular spacing whereby advancement of one gear tooth on gear 45 will effect corresponding angular movement of the register wheel to represent an input value of one. Lower order register wheel 41 includes an axially extending carry gear drive element 47. Carry gear drive element 47 is detailed in location relative to the value representative position located at the viewing window whereby advancement of the register wheel 41 from nine to zero will effect an angular displacement of a carry drive gear 48. Carry drive gear 48 is rotatably supported on a support shaft 49. Support shaft 49 is mounted within the end plates 23, 24 in parallel relationship to support shaft 32. Carry drive gear 48 is detailed in axial dimensions to be supported in driving engagement with a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending gear teeth 50 provided on an adjacent register wheel 42.

When register wheel 41 is advanced for effecting movement of the register wheel 41 from a value of nine to zero at the value representative position, the gear drive element 47 will effect a corresponding angular movement of carry drive gear 48. The angular move ment of carry drive gear 48 will effect an angular displacement of register wheel 42 whereby the value shown at the value representative position will be advanced from zero to one, or increased by an input value of one. Register wheel 42 includes a gear drive element 51 extending axially from the register wheel on an opposite side from gear teeth 50. The gear drive element 51 is operable for providing increments of angular displacement of a carry drive gear 52 supported on support shaft 49. The axial dimension of carry drive gear 52 is detailed whereby an opposite axial driving edge of gear 52 is supported in driving engagement with a series of circumferentially spaced axially extending gear teeth 53 formed on register wheel 43. The carry drive element 51 and carry drive gear 52 are detailed in operation whereby advancement of the register wheel 42 from nine to zero will effect advancement of the register wheel 43 an angular amount representative of a value of one.

The above described register wheels 40 and carry mechanisms 47, 48, etc., are of conventional construction and are operable whereby a serial input of values into the lower order register wheel 41 can be accumulated in the register wheels 41-43 with a carry representative of a value of one being transferred from the lower order register wheel to the next adjacent higher order register wheel, in response to advancement of the lower order register wheel from a position of nine to a position of zero.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, an input value representative of one is transferred into the lower order register wheel 41 by an input means 60. The value input means includes an input pawl 61. Input pawl 61 is pivotally supported on support shaft 49. Input pawl 61 includes a forwardly extending arm portion 62 having an opening 63 formed therein. A pair of gear drive indexing elements 64, 65 are detailed in location and dimensions to be operatively associated with the gear element 45 formed on the lower order register wheel 41. The pair of gear indexing elements 64, 65 are detailed in location relative to the angular placement of the gear teeth 46 whereby movement of the input pawl 61 in a counterclockwise direction will effect a counterclockwise rotation of gear 45 a first predetermined amount, and a clockwise movement of the input pawl 61 will cause the indexing element 65 to advance gear 45 in a counterclockwise direction an additional angular amount. The pair of gear indexing elements 64, 65 are detailed such that the total angular displacement of the gear 46 by indexing elements 64, 65 are detailed such that the total angular displacement of the gear 46 by indexing elements 64, 65 will represent an input of one into the lower order register wheel 41.

The input pawl 61 is normally biased in a clockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 3, by means of a permanent magnet 67. Permanent magnet 67 is rotatably supported on shaft 49 and is connected to the input pawl 61 by a pair of radially disposed axially extending connecting shafts 68, 69. The connection of the shafts 68, 69 between the permanent magnet 67 and input pawl 61 will lock the permanent magnet and input pawl together whereby angular displacement of the permanent magnet will effect corresponding angular displacement of the input pawl. The poles of the permanent magnet 67 are normally biased in a clockwise direction as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 by attraction to the poles 81 and 82 of magnetic attraction means 80. The magnetic attraction means is constructed of a pair of angularly shaped brackets or poles 81, 82 supported adjacent each other to form a U-shaped member or magnetizable core having a base portion 83. The extended ends of brackets 81, 82 include oppositely directed coplanar aligned support plates 84, 85, respectively. The magnetic attraction means 80 is secured to end plate member 23 by placing the connecting plates 84, 85 in abutting relationship with end plate member 23 and by inserting conventional brad connection means 86 through complementary openings provided in plates 84, 85 and in end plate 23.

Brackets 81, 82 include a flat portion located on opposite angularly displaced locations relative to the axis of permanent magnet 67. Brackets 81, 82 are operatively associated with the permanent magnet 67, whereby the permanent magnet will be normally biased in a clockwise direction, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. When the permanent magnet is biased in a clockwise direction, the gear indexing element 65 will be maintained in engagement with the gear teeth 46 of the lower order register wheel 41, to thereby maintain the register wheel in a selectively set position.

A cycle of input operation is effected by means of an electromagnetic means 90. The electromagnetic means 90 is supported on the U-shaped means base portion 81. The electromagnetic means 90 includes a pair of input lead lines 91, 92. Lead line 91 is operatively associated with a selectively operable switch means 93 and a power supply source 94. Lead line 92 is operatively connected to conventional ground means 95. Switch means 93 is a conventional pulse switch which will conduct an electrical pulse from the power source 94 along lead line 91 through the electromagnetic relay means 90 and to the ground 95 in response to operation of the switch 93. An electrical pulse applied to the electromagnetic means 90 will reverse the polarity of the magnetic attraction brackets 81, 82. Reversing of the magnetic attraction brackets 81, 82 will cause the permanent magnet 67 to be biased in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Biasing movement of the permanent magnet 67 in a counterclockwise direction will cause the input pawl 61 to be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction causing the indexing elements 64 to be moved into engagement with gear teeth 46. When the indexing element 64 contacts the gear teeth 46, the gear 45 and lower order register wheel 41 will be angularly displaced in a counterclockwise direction a first predetermined amount.

After the electrical pulse applied to the electromagnetic means 90 has been completed, the polarity of the magnetic attraction brackets 81, 82 will again revert to their original state causing the permanent magnet 67-to again to biased in a clockwise direction. Return movement of the permanent magnet 67 and input pawl 61 in a clockwise direction will bring the indexing element 65 into engagement with gear teeth 46 on the gear 45. The gear indexing element 65 will cause an additional angular displacement of the gear 45 and lower order register wheel 41. The total displacement effected by the pair of gear indexing elements 64, 65in response to a cycle of operation of the input pawl 61 will effect an angular'displacement of the lower order register wheel 41 equal to an input value of one.

Thus, it can be seen byselectively operating puls switch 93, an electrical pulse will be transferred to the electromagnetic means 90 and with each pulse applied to the electromagnetic means 90, a cycle of operation of the permanent magnet and input pawl 61 will be effected. With each cycle of operation of the input pawl 61, the lower order register wheel 41 will be advanced an angular amount representative of an input value of one. After the register wheel 41 has been advanced a number of input values representative of nine, a next input value into the lower order register wheel will cause the gear drive element 47 to angularly displace carry drive gear 48. Thus, when the lower order register wheel 41 moves from a value of nine to a value of zero, a value representative of one will be transferred to the next adjacent high order register wheel 42, causing the register wheel 42 to move from a value representative of zero to a value representative of one. The input value entered into the lower order register wheel by cyclic operation of the electromagnetic means 90 and input pawl 61 will continue to operate until the plurality of input pulses are accumulated in the register wheels 41-43.

An accumulative value contained in the register wheels 41-43 will be aligned with a value representative position, as shown in FIG. 5. The transparent window 30 will not normally permit an observer to view the value contained at the value representative position. The value contained at the value representative position can be observed by closing a switch electrically connected between the power source 94, light means 31 and ground means 95, whereby the light means 31 will be moved to an on position. When light means 31 is operated, the light will illuminate to increase the light intensity on the number set at a value representative position, at which time the value can be observed through the transparent window 30.

The above operation of the electrical input counter, utilizing the transparent window 30 detailed in light in tensity reflections will permit values to be accumulated in the counter and will not permit these values to be observed until, at which time it is desired to read out or record the values contained at a value representative position, such as would be the casein utilizing the electronic counter embodying the principles of the present invention with a voting machine.

A value contained in the value representative position can be cleared from the counter or the register wheels4ll-43 and advanced to represent zeros by inputting a plurality of electrical pulses into the register wheels which would bring all of the register wheels to represent a value of 999, wherein one additional input of one would rotate all of the register wheels to bring the zero-representative value into alignment with the value representative position.

It now becomes apparent that the above described illustrative embodiment of a counter embodying the principles of the present invention is capable of obtaining the above stated objects and advantages. It is obvious that those skilled in the art may make minor modifications in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention which is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: r

l. Acounter, capable of serially receiving and accumulating a plurality of input values, comprising in combination:

a. a frame support means;

b. an ordinal series of register wheels rotatably carried by said support means and including value representative means circumferentially spaced around said wheels, the lower order-register wheel of said series including gear indexing means;

0. carry gear means rotatably mounted on said support means and operatively associated with said series of register wheels so that a value of one can be transferred from a lower order register wheel to a next adjacent higher order register wheel in response to advancement of said lower order register wheel past a predetermined point;

(1. an input pawl including a pair of gear indexing elements alternately engageable with said gear indexing means of said lower order register wheel, said indexing elements being so positioned that movement of the pawl in a first direction will impart to said gear indexing means an increment of movement in a predetermined direction, while return movement of said pawl in a second direction opposite to said first direction will impart to said indexing means a further increment of movement in said predetermined direction, said increments combined producing a movement of said indexing means corresponding to a value of one;

e. a permanent magnet rotatably mounted on said support means and secured to said input pawl for movement of said input pawl upon rotational movement of said permanent magnet, said permanent magnet moving said pawl in said first direction when said permanent magnet is rotated in one direction and moving said pawl in said second direction when said permanent magnet is rotated in an opposite direction; and

f. an electromagnet means having a magneticable core with portions adjacent the poles of said permanent magnet, whereby the poles of said permanent magnet are attracted to said portions of said core for magnetically urging the poles of said permanent magnet in said one direction toward said parts of said core to a first position, said electromagnet means including a coil for said core which, when energized, will magnetize said core in a manner to cause it to produce poles to repel the poles of said permanent and move said permanent magnet in said opposite direction to a second position; whereby when current is no longer applied to said coil, the poles of said permanent magnet will again be attracted to said portions and be essentially the sole means to return said permanent magnet from its second position of its first position.

2. A counter as in claim 1 wherein said frame support means include a pair of spaced plate elements, a pair of parallel shafts supported by said spaced elements, one of said shafts rotatably supporting said register wheels and the other of said shafts rotatably supporting said carrier gear means.

3. A counter as in claim 2 wherein said input pawl and said permanent magnet are located on opposite sides of one of said plate elements and are connected together by pins extending through openings in said element.

4. A counter as in claim 1 further characterized in that said core a substantially U-shaped elements having a body portion surrounded by said coil and having parallel leg terminating in coplanar support plates and wherein said permanent magnet is located between the legs of said U-shaped element with the poles of the permanent magnet being adjacent to the respective legs of the U-shaped element.

5. A counter as in claim 1 wherein said input pawl comprises an arm having a circular opening therein surrounding said gear indexing means and wherein said gear indexing means are pointed projections extending inwardly of said opening. 

1. A counter, capable of serially receiving and accumulating a plurality of input values, comprising in combination: a. a frame support means; b. an ordinal series of register wheels rotatably carried by said support means and including value representative means circumferentially spaced around said wheels, the lower order register wheel of said series including gear indexing means; c. carry gear means rotatably mounted on said support means and operatively associated with said series of register wheels so that a value of one can be transferred from a lower order register wheel to a next adjacent higher order register wheel in response to advancement of said lower order register wheel past a predetermined point; d. an input pawl including a pair of gear indexing elements alternately engageable with said gear indexing means of said lower order register wheel, said indexing elements being so positioned that movement of the pawl in a first direction will impart to said gear indexing means an increment of movement in a predetermined direction, while return movement of said pawl in a second direction opposite to said first direction will impart to said indexing means a further increment of movement in said predetermined direction, said increments combined producing a movement of said indexing means corresponding to a value of one; e. a permanent magnet rotatably mounted on said support means and secured to said input pawl for movement of said input pawl upon rotational movement of said permanent magnet, said permanent magnet moving said pawl in said first direction when said permanent magnet is rotated in one direction and moving said pawl in said second direction when said permanent magnet is rotated in an opposite direction; and f. an electromagnet means having a magneticable core with portions adjacent the poles of said permanent magnet, whereby the poles of said permanent magnet are attracted to said portions of said core for magnetically urging the poles of said permanent magnet in said one direction toward said parts of said core to a first position, said electromagnet means including a coil for said core which, when energized, will magnetize said core in a manner to cause it to produce poles to repel the poles of said permanent and move said permanent magnet in said opposite direction to a second position; whereby when current is no longer applied to said coil, the poles of said permanent magnet will again be attracted to said portions and be essentially the sole means to return said permanent magnet from its second position of its first position.
 2. A counter as in claim 1 wherein said frame support means include a pair of spaced plate elements, a pair of parallel shafts supported by said spaced elements, one of said shafts rotatably supporting said register wheels and the other of said shafts rotatably supporting said carrier gear means.
 3. A counter as in claim 2 wherein said input pawl and said permanent magnet are located on opposite sides of one of said plate elements and are connected together by pins extending through openings in said element.
 4. A counter as in claim 1 further characterized in that said core a substantially U-shaped elements having a body portion surrounded by said coil and having parallel leg terminating in coplanar support plates and wherein said permanent magnet is located between the legs of said U-shaped element with the poles of the permanent magnet being adjacent to the respective legs of the U-shaped element.
 5. A counter as in claim 1 wherein said input pawl comprises an arm having a circular opening therein surrounding said gear indexing means and wherein said gear indexing means are pointed projections extending inwardly of said opening. 